WSO Release Historic Glenn Gould Performance

To coincide with the launch of their 65th season on September 21st, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is releasing the 1959 performance od Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring a young Glenn Gould as soloist.

Victor Feldbrill, who already had a long standing musical relationship with Gould, was music director of the orchestra at the time. He asked Gould, and while the piece was not in his repertoire, Gould jumped at the chance.

According to a review in classical music magazine Fanfare "Gould's piano playing is passionate, full of flexibility, and he cultivates a beautiful singing line. The orchestra is well conducted by Victor Feldbrill and accompanies responsively. It's a far better performance than the famous live [1962] New York version with Bernstein."

The disagreements between Gould and Leonard Bernstein during the 1962 performance are well documented, however no such problems existed on the Winnipeg recording three years earlier.

To order a copy of the disc, call (204) 949-3999